Range timer



June 5, 1962 w. s. zAGoRsKl 3,038,041 RANGE: TIMER Filed July 21, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 June 5, 1962 Filed July 2l, 1959 w. s. zAGoRsKl 3,038,041

RANGE TIMER 4 Sheetsheet 2 June 5, 1962 w. s. zAGoRsKl RANGE: TIMER 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 f Filed July 21, 1959 A@ WMM/yf.

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June 5, 1962 w. s. zAGRsKl 3,038,041

RANGE TIMER Filed July 21, 1959 4 sheetsheet 1 Fig/0.

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United States Patent Office 3,038,041 Patented June 5, 1962 3,038,041 RANGE TIMER Wladyslaw S. Zagorski, Morrison, Ill., assigner to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York Filed July 21, 1959, Ser. No. 828,483 21 Claims. (Cl. 209-38) This invention relates to time switches of the electric range timer type and is particularly applicable to the type of range timer having a means for automatically controlling the oven of an electric range.

Modern electric range timers often include means for setting the start time i.e., the time `at which the oven is to be turned on, and means for setting the stop time, i.e., the time at which the oven is to be turned off. In using such a timer, the housewife may set her oven for automatic operation by adjusting her range timer to the desired settings. The timing mechanism then energizes the oven when the start time is reached, and deenergizes the oven when the stop time is reached. It is important in designing such a range timer that the means for setting the times for automatic operation be extremely simplified and conveniently located.

On occasion the housewife may desire to manually control the operation of her oven rather than controlling it automatically. For manual operation it is necessary that the timer controlled switch be in a closed position. With the switch set for manual the housewife may then control the oven by means of the oven thermostat. In prior art range timers the adjustment of the range timer for manual operation has been inconvenient to manipulate and complicated in operative effect.

Prior art timers have also exhibited the inherent shortcoming of failing to provide an inexpensive and simplified means for enforcing the desired sequential action of axially slidable members when such members are used to set the timer for automatic operation. For certain settings of the range timer where the stop time setting for the oven is advanced more than twelve hours from the time of the day during which the automatic operation is being set upon the range timer, the stop time setting may be reached before the start time setting at which time the switch should be closed to turn on the oven. An example of this would be a situation where the housewife sets the range timer for automatic operation at seven oclock in the evening, and desiring to have the oven go on before she gets up the next morning, sets the start time for 6 oclock and the stop time for 8 oclock. When the timer gear train first reaches eight oclock in the evening after it has been set, the actuation of the stop member before the start member, if it were to occur, might result in a malfunction of the timer switch. To eliminate this possibility, it is, therefore, desirable to provide a means for assuring the `desired sequential action of the start and stop members after the timer switch has been set for automatic operation, regardless of what time of day the settings are made.

In prior art range timers, snap acting mechanisms which are used to snap the switch contacts to open and closed positions have been found to be quite bulky and complicated. In operating a timer switch by means of axially slidable members, such mechanisms have also been found to be somewhat inefficient. It is also therefore felt that the art of electric range timers has an additional need of an eiiicient, simplified and economical snap acting mechanism for actuating the timer switch.

Accordingly, it is a primary object of this invention to provide an improved range timer which is simple to operate and minimizes the possibility of timer switch malfunction.

Another object of my invention is to provide an improved range timer which is inexpensive, reliable, and durable.

A further object of my invention is to provide an improved range timer having an efficient and simplified means for actuating the switch.

It is still another object of this invention to provide an improved range timer wherein the desired sequential actuation of the switch is enforced when the timer is set for automatic operation.

In carrying out one aspect of my invention, which is directed particularly to providing a simplified means for adjusting a range timer for manual operation, I provide a range timer having a switch and a lever mechanism for operating the switch. Starting and stopping control members are axially slidable to actuate the switch through this lever mechanism. These members are rotatable in their depressed positions to set the times at which the switch will be closed and opened, and axially slidable outwardly to perform their actuating functions in response to a motor driven means. When the start member is in its outer or unset position and the stop member is depressed, a pivotally mounted latch member engages the stop member and thereby actuates the switch through the lever mechanism to lock the switch in its closed position. Means is also provided to unlock the switch from its closed position by depression of the start member.

By a further aspect of my invention, I provide an improved arrangement for enforcing the desired sequential operation of the axially slidable control members regardless of the time of the day at which the members are adjusted to set the switch for automatic operation. This improved arrangement may, of course, be combined with the aforesaid structure to provide a particularly desirable range timer. In this arrangement, a lever is pivotally mounted in such a manner as to provide the desired sequential effect. The lever is engaged Iby and responsive to movement of the starting member, a portion of the lever coacting with the lever mechanism to prevent any interaction between the lever mechanism and the stop control member when the start member is in its depressed position.

In an additional aspect of my invention, I provide an improved operating mechanism for a range timer switch having axially slidable starting and stopping control members. This mechanism may, of course, also be combined with the aforesaid structures to provide a particularly desirable range timer. In this operating arrangement, first and second levers are provided, both of which are guided for movement generally perpendicular to the backplate. The first of the levers is pivotally mounted and spring biased to urge the axially movable stop member to its outer position. A portion of the first lever is formed to cooperate with the second lever so that the second lever is movable therewith and spring biased thereby. The second lever overlies the first lever and moves a switch actuating pin in response to the pivotal movement of the first lever, with a depending portion of the second lever abutting the outer surface of the backplate and sliding and pivoting to vary the position of the actuating pin. This second lever pivots in such a manner that when both starting and stopping members are set or unset there is no substantial change in effect upon the switch actuating pin, and when the starting member is unset with the stopping member set, the pin actuates the switch.

By further aspects of my invention, additional desirable features may be included in the range timer, and the specification concludes with claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which I regard as my invention. The invention, however, as to organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevation view of an improved range timer embodying my invention in one form thereof;

FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the range timer;

FIG. 3 is an end view of the range timer from the side on which the switch is mounted;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary view of a portion of the back of the range timer, partially in section and partially broken away, to show the switch actuating mechanism when the switch is set for automatic operation;

FIG. 5` is the same fragmentary View as FIG. 4 Where the switch is set for manual operation;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along the line A-A of FIG. 5 with dotted lines representing certain alternate operating positions of certain movable parts of the range timer;

FIG. 7 is a side View of part of the switch actuating mechanism with the switch set for manual operation;

FIG. 8 is an exploded View showing the switch, the actuating and setting mechanisms, and certain related parts of the range timer;

FIG. 9 is a perspective View of the lever which provides the `desired sequential operation of the start and stop members;

FIG. 10 is a rear elevation view which is partially broken away, of the range timer;

FIG. l1 is a sectional view taken generally along the line B-B of FIG. l with the range timer set for automatic operation;

FIG. l2 is the same view as FIG. l0, with the switch not set for either automatic or manual operation;

FIG. 13 is a fragmentary view partially in section of the stop shaft when the range timer has been adjusted to automatic operation from manual operation.

FIG. 14 is a fragmentary View of a portion of the back of the range timer including the switch; and

FIG. l is a magnified fragmentary perspective view partially in section and partially broken away showing the latch member, the stop shaft and certain associated structure of the switch.

In the drawings the same components are designated by the same numerals.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, my invention is shown in one form embodied in a range timer having a face plate 12, clock mechanism 14, electric motor 16 for driving the clock mechanism, and oven controlling switch 18. Starting and stopping control members 25 and 27, respectively, are also provided and these members function as switch actuating and setting members for controlling the response of the switch to the clock mechanism. Members 25 and 27 each also include shafts 20 and 22, respectively, which may be manually adjusted to aifect the desired timed response upon switch 18. 'I'o furnish an interval timing signal for the operator, interval timer 24 is also provided, the mechanism thereof actuating a buzzer sound at the end of a time interval which is preset by the adjustment of shaft 26. Time indication for the observer is obtained from clock mechanism 14 by means of central setting shaft 28 with hour and minute hands 30 and 32 mounted thereto. The hour and minute hands rotate about time indicating embossment 34 which is formed on the face plate 12 and is appropriately divided into twelve hourly designations. Start time indicating embossment 36 and stop time indicating embossment 38 are each also formed in face plate 12, and they are each divided into twelve hourly designations. Starting and stopping shafts and 22 each have an indicating hand 19 attached thereto to indicate the times at which the oven is to be turned on and oif respectively by switch 18. Time indication for the minute timer is provided by a separate rotatable disc 40 which is affixed to setting shaft 26. Disc 40 contains appropriate indicia the position of which may be adjusted relative to a fixed indicating line on the face plate. Knobs 42 cooperate with the slotted outer ends of each of the setting shafts to facilitate manual adjustment thereof.

For supporting all of the various mechanisms of the range timer, front and rear plates 44 and 46 respectively are provided. Face plate 12 is attached to the outer side of front plate 44. Threaded spacers 48 are staked to front plate 44 so that rear plate 46 may be firmly secured thereto by means of screws 50. To support setting shafts 20, 22, l26 and 28 within the timer, all of these shafts are rotatably journalled in front plate 44, with their outer end portions terminating in manually operable setting knobs 42. The inner end portions of shafts 20, 22, 26 and 28 all extend through rear plate 46 to provide additional bearing support.

It will be noted that clock mechanism 14 is centrally Vlocated in the range timer, with interval timing mechanism 24 on the right side, as seen in FIGS. 1 and 2. As shown in FIG, 2, switch 18 is disposed on the left side of the timer, along with the starting and stopping members 25 and 27. To provide snap action for switch 18 in response to timed axial movement of members 25 and 27 cooking or lever mechanism 54 has been utilized. This cocking mechanism is mounted on the outer side of rear plate 46, and is covered and protected by switch insulating base 52. Certain features of this cocking mechanism 54 form an important aspect of my invention and the mechanism shall be described in detail hereinafter.

To set the starting and stopping times for the oven, as previously mentioned, starting and stopping `shafts 20 and 22, respectively, have been provided. Starting and stopping shafts 20 and 22 are rotatably journalled for Iaxial movement within bushings 74 and 76, and the inner ends 78 and 80 of these shafts extend outwardly from rear plate 46 through apertures 82 and `84 to actuate the switch cocking mechanism 54 and thereby close or open the switch. (See FIG. 6.) The shafts 20 and 22 have gear shaped discs 21 and 23, respectively, mounted on a portion of each shaft between front plate 44 and rear plate 46. (See FIG. 8.) Gear shaped discs 21 and 23 have apertures 60 and -62 formed on the surfaces thereof. These apertures serve `to provide the preset timed axial movement of starting yand stopping members 25 and 27, by engagement with projecting noses 64 and 66 of driven gears 68 and 70. Gears 68 and 70 are journalled for coaxial rotative movement around shafts 20 and 22, by annular bushings 74 and 76. To continuously drive gears 68 and 70, gear 72 is driven by `the clock mechanism and continuously meshes with gears 68 and 70. (See FIG. 8.) Discs 21 and 23 are securely mounted to their respective starting and stopping shafts Ztl and 22 to form starting and stopping control members 25 and 27. When shafts 2t) and 22 are axially depressed they are biased outwardly by resilient means which shall be described hereinafter. Since discs 21 and 23 are attached to their respective shafts 2t) and 22, when these shafts are in their depressed or set positions, the discs are axially biased toward coaxially arranged driven gears `68' and 70, and noses 64 and 66 of the driven gears 68 and 70 thereupon ride on the adjacent surfaces of discs 21 and 23 to restrain outward axial movement of members 25 `and 27 until the preset switch actuating times have been reached. When the preset actuating time is reached, aperture 60 or 62 is in alignment with mating nose 64 or 66 of the particular `driven gear, and starting member 25 or stopping member 27 moves outwardly to actuate the switch cocking mechanism and thereby operate the switch contacts. The outward axial movement of starting and stopping members 25 `and 27 in response to the clock timing mechanism forms an important aspect of my invention insofar as actuation of the switch cooking mechanism is concerned, as shall hereinafter become apparent.

Starting and stopping members 25 and 217 are thus yaxially slidable between outer and inner positions to set and to actuate switch 18. Upon depression of either assenti member to its inner position, manual rotation thereof sets the desired time response of the switch in accordance with the angular position of the disc aperture in relation to the mating nose of its associated driven gear. When the preset time has been reached and starting or stopping member or 27 moves outwardly to perform its particular switch actuating function, the cooperation between the disc aperture and the mating nose of its associated driven gear (now also a driving gear) thereafter causes the unset starting or stopping member to rotate with the clock mechanism. (See FlG. `12.) While rotating wi-th the clock mechanism in their outer positions members 25 and 27 are not manually rotatable because of the large amount of gear train torque restraining the manual rotation thereof. When either one or the other or both of starting and stopping members 25 and 27 are in their depressed positions, the gear teeth of discs 21 and 23 are engaged by detent spring 86. This spring, as best seen in FIGS. 6 and 8, includes oppositely disposed V-shaped projections which are spring biased to engage adjacent teeth of rotating discs 21 `and 23 when these discs are in their depressed position. Use or" the spring `86 provides control for rota-tion of the starting and stopping shafts in setting the starting and stopping times for automatic operation, by serving as a detent for the rotary movement of the discs.

T o provide a new and improved mechanism for closing the contacts of my switch in response to outward axial movement of starting member 2S, and then opening the contacts of the switch in response to the outward axial movement of stopping member 27 thereafter, I have utilized switch cooking or lever mechanism 54. This cooking mechanism is conveniently arranged on the outer surface of rear plate 46 adjacent the inner ends 78 and 80 of the starting and stopping members, and housed underneath switch insulator 52. To support and guide some of the components of the cooking mechanism, lsupport 88 is secured to outer surface 46a of rea-r plate '46, between shaft receiving apertures 82 and 84. (See FIG. 8.) Support 88 includes a long side 90 which rests upon and is suitably attached to the outer surface 46a of the rear plate, a shorter U-shaped flanged por-tion 92 which projects outwardly from the rear plate, and short flanged poration 94. U-shaped portion 92 of support 88 is generally perpendicular to surface 46a `of the rear plate and in the vicinity of stop shaft aperture 84. Flanged portion 94 of support 88 extends outwardly from rear plate surface 46a, and is in the vicinity of start shaft aperture 82. The U-shaped portion 92 of support 88 includes base 101 and sides 102, which form lower base edge 96 and opposi-tely disposed side edges 98. Side edges 98 of support `88 are generally perpendicular to base edge 96. To provide snap acting biasing force for the switch cocking mechanism and also to bias stop member 27 to its outer position, lever 100 is pivotally mounted on support 88. (See FIG. 6.) This lever is guided for movement toward or away from rear plate 46 by a pair of oppositely disposed slots 103, on the side edges thereof intermediate the ends. Slots 103 receive sides 102 of U-shaped portion 92 of the supporting member 88 to guide movement of lever 100 in a direction generally perpendicular to rear plate 46. Groove 104 is formed in lever i) adjacent to end 106 to receive shoulder 108 of a U-shaped biasing spring 110. This spring provides the biasing force for the switch cooking mechanism by resiliently acting upon lever 100. The ends of legs 112 of U-shaped spring 11E) slip underneath appropriate apertures 114 of support ange 94. With lever 160 positioned upon U-shaped support portion 92, the latter serves as a fulcrum and the shoulder of spring 110 urges end 106 of lever 100 downwardly lagainst the end tip 81 of stopping member 27. To transmit switch actuating motion from the starting and stopping members to the switch itself and in addition thereto to provide another significant advantage which shall be discussed in detail hereinafter, I have also provided switch actuating lever or arm 116. Arm 116 inciudes a generally flat portion 118, a shoulder 120 which is bent angularly from portion 118 in a generally perpendicular direction thereto, and an aperture 122 which is spaced from fiat end 124. Between aperture 122 and shoulder 120 of arm 116, oppositely disposed edge slots 126 are formed. The purpose of these slots is for receiving sides 102 of support portion 92 and guiding the movement of arm 116 in a similar' manner as hereinbefore described for lever 100. (See FIGS. 4 and 8.) End 128 of biasing lever i100 is turned angularly up and then parallel to the main surface of lever 160, as shown in FIG. 6, to form a tab-like extension. When lever and arm 116 are mounted on fulcrum support portion 92, end 128 of the lever is received within `aperture 122 of arm 116. (See FIGS. 4 and 6.) By means of the engagement of bent end 28 of lever 100 with the aperture 122 of arm 116, the biasing force of U-shaped spring which acts upon lever 16d is transmitted to arm 116. Spring `110 urges groove 164 of lever 100 downwardly (as shown in FIGS. 6 and 1l) to provide a counterclockwise moment of biasing force about fulcrum support 92. This moment is then transmitted to arm 116 by engagement of bent end 128 with arm aperture 122, as a counterclockwise moment of biasing force about end 129 of arm 116. (See FIGS. 8 and l5.) End 129 of arm 116 abuts outer surface 46a of rear plate 46 and slides and pivots thereupon. To serve as a guide for the sliding pivotal movement of arm end 129, arm 116 also has a pair of oppositely disposed extensions 131 protruding from end 129 on each side thereof. (See FIG. 8.) These eX- tensions 131 move within a pair of spaced slots 130 which are formed in rear plate 46 adjacent to stopping shaft aperture 84, and thereby guide the sliding pivotal movement of arm 116. The generally ilat surface 118 of actuating arm 116 is normally in contact with switch `actuating pin 132. (See FIG. 6.) By means of this contact, the sliding pivotal movement of arm 116, and the coaction of spring biased pivoted lever 100, switch 18 is eciently controlled in response to the axial movement of starting and stopping members 25 land 27 Any number of ways could be used to bias starting member 25 outwardly from its depressed position, such as a coiled spring (not shown) disposed between disc 21 and the side of rear plate 46 which faces this disc. In my range timer, however, I have found it preferable instead to utilize pivoted stop lever 134, since this lever has been provided to perform another very important function in one aspect of my invention. Both of these functions of this stop lever shall be better understood hereinafter as the description of my invention progresses. (See FIGS. 8 and 9.)

Lever 134 has angularly bent tabs 136 and 138 disposed adjacent to two of its opposite corners. These tabs engage slots and 141 of plate 46 which are spaced toward the cloclt mechanism from cooking mechanism 54. The side edges of tab =138 of lever 134 are generally parallel so that tab 138 is free to move in or out of mating slot 141. Lever tab 136, however, has a longitudinal extension 142, which slips underneath the rear plate 46, as seen in FIGS. 4 and 5, so that shoulder 142a of the extension engages inner side 46b of the rear plate and thus loosely retains lever 134 within the slots. To transmit biasing force from the spring 110 to starting member 25, and to also provide the other important aspect of this invention which as previously mentioned shall be discussed hereinafter, lever 134 includes branches 144 and 146. These branches each extend generally into the switch cooking mechanism from the side of lever 134 opposite to where the tabs are disposed. Branch 144 is raised slightly from the general surface of lever 134, but is generally parallel thereto, Vand is positioned between end 124 of the switch actuating arm 116 and end tip 79 of starting member 25. (See FIGS. 1l and l2.)

Branch 146 of lever 134 is in the same plane as the general surface of lever 134, and, as shown in FIG. 11, is disposed between inner tip 81 of stopping member 27 and fulcrum 92, underneath groove 104 of the pivoted lever 100.

The additional and very important function which stop lever 134 provides, is a new and improved means for enforcing the desired sequential actuating movement of starting and stopping control members 25 and 27 after the range timer has been set for automaitc operation. This effect is efficiently achieved by stop member 134 while at the same time the outward biasing of depressed starting shaft is also produced by the same means. When starting shaft 20 is depressed to its inward or set position to set the timer switch for automa-tic control of the oven, inner tip 79 of shaft 20 engages branch 144 of stop lever 134 and forces it to move outwardly from rear plate 46. (Compare FIG. 12 with FlG. 1l.) Lever 134 thereupon pivots about tabs 136 and 13S, and branch 146 of the lever 134 forces groove i104 of lever 100 upwardly, as shown in FIG. 1l, lagainst the biasing force of spring 110. With the biasing force of `spring 110 4then forcing groove 104 of lever 100 downwardly against branch i146 of the stop lever, when nose 64 of driven gear 68 reaches alignment with aperture 60 of starting member disc 21, the biasing force of spring 110 will urge branch 144 of lever 134 downwardly from the posi-tion shown in FIG. 11, to force starting shaft 20 to its outer or unset position. This outward movement of starting member 25, of course, closes the switch by the sliding pivotal movement of switch actuating arm 116. It is important to note that while starting shaft 20 is in its depressed position, as lshown in FIG. 11, pivoted lever 100 is prevented from engaging inner tip 81 of stopping shaft 22. Since as previously mentioned the outward axial movement of starting and stopping members and 27 operates the switch 18 by actuating the cooking mechanism 54, it can thus be seen that no actuation of the cocking mechanism can occur when nose 66 of driven gear 70 becomes aligned with disc aperture 62. of the stopping member 27 unless start shaft 20 has first moved outwardly. Stop member 134 thus provides a simple means for enforcement of the desired sequence of movement of the starting and stopping members. Stopping member 27 is thereby efficiently precluded from coacting with the cocking mechanism when the starting member is in its set position.

Any suitable type of switch could be utilized with my invention. Switch 18 represents one preferable form. This switch is of the normally closed type, and is used as a normally open switch in the range timer, having normally closed contact pairs 148 and 150 which are biased to their closed positions by contact carrying leaf springs 152 and 154. Insulator member l156 is pivotally mounted within switch insulating base 52 and switch actuating pin 132 is in adjustable threaded engagement with member 156 with its lower tip resting upon the switch actuating arm 116 of the cooking mechanism 54. (See FIGS. 11 and 14.) Pivoted member 156 has a pair of spaced tits 158 and 160 which lie ydirectly underneath leaf springs 152 and 154. As switch actuating arm 116 of the cocking mechanism pivots in response to the actuating axial movement of starting and stopping members 25' and 27, actuating pin 132 moves tits 158 and 161B` toward or away from leaf springs 152 and 154 to operate the contacts of the switch.

Before entering upon a detailed explanation of the operative effect of my new and improved switch cooking mechanism, and the pivoted stop lever which insures the desirable sequential actuation of the switch fer automatic operation of the range timer, one further and very important aspect of my invention shall 'first be discussed. Should the operator of the range timer decide that instead of using the timer to automatically control the switch for oven operation, it is desirable to set the timer switch for manual operation, I have provided a new and improved means for effecting this change. 0n side 46a of rear plate 46 and adjacent to stop shaft aperture 84 latch member 162 is pivotally mounted. (See FIG. l5.) Latch member 162 is loosely riveted to rear plate 46 by rivet 164, the rivet also serving as a pivoted bearing surface. Member 162 includes an eyelet extension 166 to which a hooked end of coil spring 168 is fastened, and to provide the latching effect, inwardly curved portion 170 is formed on the side of the member opposite to eyelet 166. The other end of coil spring 16S is fastened around the base of side 102 of support portion 92 which is closest to slot 141. Curved portion 170 of latch member 162 is pivotally biased by spring 168 so that the right edge of the curved portion, as shown in FIG. 5, slightly overlaps aperture 84, when the starting member 25 is unset. At stopping shaft is depressed with the start shaft in its outer position, an annular groove 172 of stop shaft 22 near inner tip 81 is engaged by the spring biased latch members curved edge 170, to lock the stopping shaft in its inner position. With this condition, the left side of latch member 162 (as seen in FIG. 5) has a generally straight edge which slightly overlaps edge 13101 of slot 131. (See also FIG. 15.) With starting shaft 20 in its outer position, depression of the stopping shaft 22 forces end 106 of lever 100 outwardly against the biasing force of spring 110, as seen in FIG. 6, which affects the downward movement of the right side of switch actuating arm 116. Contact actuating pin 132 thus moves downwardly (as shown in FIG. 6) to allow the contacts of the switch to close. The range timer has therefore been set for manual operation by merely depressing the stopping shaft, with the starting shaft in its outer position. Nose 66 of driven gear 70 is then continuously spaced from stop disc 23, and no actuating motion of stopping member 27 occurs because of its engagement with the latch member. To return the timer to automatic operation after it has been set for manual control, depression of the starting shaft moves switch actuating lever 116 to the dotted position shown in FIG. 6, with shoulder 120 moving against the adjacent side edge of latch member 162 to remove some of the biasing force of spring 168. This causes the curved portion of latch member 162 to disengage from annular groove 172 of the stc-pping shaft 22. By merely depressing and adjusting starting shaft y20, the range timer may thus be adjusted from manual opera-tion to automatic operation.

Turning now to a more complete explanation of the operation of the new and improved range timer described hereinbefore, let us rst suppose that at 9:00 p.m. the operator sets the starting member for 7:00 am. the next morning by depression of member 25 from its outer to its inner position and manual rotation of starting shaft knob 42 until hand 19 points to the 7 position. Let us further suppose that at the same time stopping member 27 is then manually adjusted in a similar manner by depression and rotation to turn the oven olf at 12:00 noon of the following day, the operator desiring to bake a roast that will be done around mid-day. Since the clock mechanism will then reach 12:00 midnight before it reaches 7:00y am. of the next day, it will be clearly understod that it would be most undesirable for the stopping shaft to be moved outwardly at 12:00 midnight or for the cooking mechanism to be in any way actuated when aperture 62 of stop disc 23 becomes aligned with its nose 66 on the associated driven gear 70. This cannot occur, however, in my improved range timer. As starting member 25 is depressed to set the on time for automatic operation of the switch, inner tip 79 of start shaft 20 forces the underside of branch 144 of stop lever 134i upwardly (as shown in FIG. 1l) to thereby move branch 146 of stop lever 134 against the underside of groove 104 of stop member biasing lever 100. With the starting member 25 Set for automatic closing of the switch, branch 146 of the stop lever urges the left side of lever 100 in a clockwise manner about fulcrum support portion 92 in opposition to the biasing effect of U-shaped spring 110. The actuating end 106 of lever 100 is thus braced away from inner tip 81 of stop shaft 22, and cannot move downwardly a sufficient distance to in any way actuate the switch contacts through the :rocking mechanism until stop member 25 has first moved to its outer position. Stop lever 134 thereby serves as an efficient means for enforcing the desired sequential movement of start and stop members 25 and 27 outwardly after the switch of the range timer has been set for automatic operation. In addition to supporting spring biased lever 160 to thereby prevent end 166 from transmitting the biasing force of spring 11i) to inner tip 81 of stop member 27, branch 144 of stop lever 134 also then biases the start shaft 2G outwardly by transmitting force thereto from spring 11G.

As the clock mechanism of the range timer then proceeds toward 7:00 am., start member 25' and stop member 27 remain in position as their associated driven gears 68 and 70 rotate around shafts 2t? and 22. Detent spring 86 restrains the starting and stopping discs 21 and 23 from random rotary movement, and driven gear nose 64 rides around the opposed `surface of start disc 21 to retain the starting member 25 in its depressed position. As shown in FIG. 1l, stopping disc 23 is spaced from driven gear nose 66 and restrained from outward axial movement by friction.

When 7:00 am. is reached, nose 64 of driven gear 66 becomes aligned with aperture 69 of starting disc 21. At the exact time at which this alignment occurs, as best shown in FIG. 6, branch 144 of the stop lever biases the start member outwardly to move it to its outer position. End 124 of switch actuatingy arm 116 pivots downwardly from its horizontal dotted position as shown in FIG. 6 to the position shown in full, against branch 144 of stop lever 134, with shoulder end 129 of arm 116 serving as a sliding pivot. This pivoting movement is enhanced by the downward biasing force of leaf springs 152 and 154. This force is transmitted to pivoted member 156 of the switch and thereby to actuating pin 132, to urge end 12d of arm 116 downwardly against branch 144 of the stop lever when starting shaft 26 moves outwardly. As actuating pin 132 of the switch 18 moves downwardly, as shown in FIG. 6, contact pairs 148 and 15() assume their closed positions to energize the oven. When starting member 25 moves outwardly, a thrust is also exerted upon stop shaft tip 81 by lever end 106. Since. the biasing force of spring 163 has been counteracted by engagement of shoulder 120 with the side edge of latch member 162, this thrust forces stop member 27 slightly outwardly t-o move disc 23 against nose 66 of driven gear 70, as shown in FIG. 13.

With the contacts of the switch thus closed by outward movement of starting member 25, this member thereupon continuously rotates with gear 68, being driven thereby through the cooperation of nose 64 `and slot 6&1 of the start shaft disc 21. Nose 66 of gear 70 continues to rotate with the clock mechanism, and retains stop member 27 in its inward position by spacing disc '23l from gear 70. (See FIG. 13.) When the preset stopping time for the oven has been reached at 12:00 noon, nose 66 of gear 70 will then be in alignment with `aperture 62 of stop disc 23. At this time, the biasing force of spring 11) is exerted upon lever 169 by engagement of the spring shoulder 168 with groove 104, to move the inner tip 81 of stop member 27 to its outer position. The outward movement of shaft 22 of the stop member causes lever 160 to pivot about fulcrum 92 in response to the biasing.,7 force of spring 11). The engagement of bent end 123 of lever 100 with aperture 122 of switch actuating arm `116, then causes the switch actuating arm 116 to move in a counterclockwise direction about shoulder end 129. Shoulder end 129 slides and pivots against the rear plate so that arm 116 urges switch actuating pin 132 to its upper position. This causes contact pairs 148 and 150 of switch 1S to open and thereby deenergize circuits to the oven, With both the starting and stopping members in their outer positions the contacts of the switch are then open, as shown in FIG. 12, and branch 144 of stop lever 134 rests loosely upon the inner tip 79 of starting shaft 20. Central surface 113 of switch actuating arm 116 is then in a position generally parallel to rear plate 46, as shown by the dotted position of arm 116 in FIG. 6.

Let us suppose that the operator of range timer 10 desires to manually control the operation of the oven, or in other words turn the oven on and off by herself rather than having the oven turned on and olf automatically. In order to provide this effect, it is necessary that the range timer switch be continuously closed. The operator can then control the oven by means of an oven thermostat which itself includes separate line contacts. With the timer switch closed, manual control of the oven can thereby be affected by means of a range thermostat, which is not shown. With my range timer, all one has to do to set the timer switch for manual operation is to depress the stop member 27 to its inner position. As stop shaft 22 of the stop member moves axially inwardly through rear plate aperture 34 to its depressed position, annular groove 172 of end portion S0 is engaged by curved edge 170 of pivoting latch member 162. (See FIG. 5.) With start member 25 in its outer position, this locks the stop member in its innermost position. When the stop member 27 is locked in its innermost position, as shown by the solid lines in FIG. 6, `the inner tip 81 of stop shaft 22 braces end 106 of lever 106 against the downward biasing force of range spring 110, and thereby causes the central portion 11S of switch actuating arm 116 to pivot downwardly to the right. The downward pivoting movement of arm 116 allows switch actuating pin 132 to also move downwardly and thus close the contacts of the switch.

With stop member 27 depressed for manual oper-ation, whenever it is desired to again set the oven for automatic operation, all that is required is the previously referred to simplified operation of depressing the start member 25 and rotating the hand attached thereto to the position at which it is desired for the oven to be automatically turned on. Depression of the start member causes shoulder 126 of switch actuating arm 116 to slidingly pivot to the right, as shown by FIG. 6, and thereby removes biasing force from latch member 162 lby engagement of shoulder with the adjacent side edge ofthe latch member, to unlock the latch member from the stop shaft. A slight amount of friction will still cause stop disc 23 to be spaced slightly from the outer end of nose 66 of driven gear 70 (as shown in FIG. l1), but when start shaft 2t) next moves to its outer position the slight thrust of lever end 166 in moving against tip 81 of the stop shaft will move disc 23 into engagement with nose 66. ri`his can be seen by comparing the positions of the stop shaft in FIGS. 1l and 13.

It will now therefore be seen that my new and improved range timer provides simple and efficient means for utilizing axially slidable and rotatable starting and stopping control members both to set the cocking mechanism of a switch for automatic operation, and to actuate the switch in response to the appropriate settings by axial movement of these control members. It will further be seen that my range timer includes a simplified and eflcient cocking mechanism for operating the switch, a conveniently operable means for setting the switch for manual operation, and an economical stop lever which assures the desired sequential operation of the aforesaid starting and stopping members `after they have been set for automatic operation of the switch. It will be understood that while all of these features embodied together in one timer would constitute an extremely eicient and conveniently operable range timer, it is, of course, not necessary that all of lthe features be included in any particular timer. It should be realized that a range timer may easily be constructed incorporating one or more of these individual features with very beneficial results.

While in accordance with lthe patent statutes, I have described what at present is considered to be the preferred embodiment of my invention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the invention and I therefore, aim in the following claims to cover all such equivalent variations as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A timer comprising a switch, means for actuating said switch including first and second manually adjustable control members, said control members each having a set position and an unset position, motor driven means for sequentially releasing said control members from their set positions thereby to provide time controlled actuation of said switch, and means for locking said switch in a closed or open position unaffected Iby said motor driven means, said locking means including a latch member arranged to engage one of said control members in its set position and being eiiective only when the other of said members is in its unset position.

2. A timer comprising a switch, a lever mechanism for operating said switch, first and second manually adjustable control members for actuating said lever mechanism, said control members each having a set position and lan unset position, motor driven means for sequentially releasing said control members from their set positions thereby to provide time controlled operation of said switch, and means for locking said switch in a closed position unaffected by said motor driven means, said locking means including a latch member arranged to engage one of said control members in its set position and being eifective only when the other of said members is in its unset positionl 3. The timer of claim 2 wherein the locking means includes Van annular groove on the control member, said groove being engaged by said latch member thereby to lock the switch in the closed position.

4. A timer comprising a switch, a lever mechanism for operating said switch, first and second manually adjustable and axially slidable control members for actuating said lever mechanism, said control members each having a set position and an unset position, motor driven means for sequentially releasing said control members from their set positions thereby to provide time controlled operation of said switch, and means for locking said switch in a closed position unaffected by said motor driven means, said locking means including a latch member arranged to engage one of said control members in its set position and being effective only when the other of said members is in its unset position.

5. The timer of claim 4 wherein the locking means includes an annular groove on the control member, said groove being engaged by said latch member thereby to lock the switch in the closed position.

6. A timer comprising a switch, a lever mechanism for operating said switch, first and second axially slidable control members for actuating said lever mechanism, said control members each having a set axial position and an unset axial position, said lever mechanism adapted to close said switch when said second member is in a set position and said first member is in an unset position, motor driven means for sequentially releasing said control members from their set positions thereby to provide time controlled operation of said switch, locking means for maintaining said switch in a closed position unaffected by said motor driven means, said locking means including an annular groove formed in said second control member, and a pivoted latch member, said latch member being spring biased toward said annular groove in said second member and engageable therewith thereby to lock said switch continuously in the closed position when said second member is moved axially to its set position and said first member is in an unset position.

7. A range timer comprising a drive motor, a switch, a

l2 lever mechanism for operating said switch, a first axially slidable control member for setting a time at which said switch is to be automatically closed, a second axially slidtable control member for setting a time at which said switch is to be automatically opened, said control members each having a set axial position and an unset axial position, means driven by said motor for sequentially releasing said control members from their set positions thereby to provide time controlled operation of said switch, a means for locking said switch in a closed position unaffected by said motor driven means, said locking means including a latch member arranged to engage said second control member when said second control member is in the set position and said first control member is in the unset position thereby to lock said switch continuously in the closed position, and a means for unlocking said locking means when said first member is moved from its unset to its set position thereby to unlock said switch.

8. The timer of claim 7 wherein the unlocking means includes a lever arm of said lever mechanism, and said first control member, said lever being engaged by said first member when said first member is moved from its unset to its set position, said lever adapted to engage said latch member thereby to disengage said latch member from said second control member.

9. A timer comprising a switch, means for actuating said switch including first and second manually adjustable control members, said control members each having a setiposition and an unset position, motor driven means for sequentially releasing said control members from their set positions thereby to provide time controlled actuation of said switch, means for locking said switch in a closed or open position unaffected by said motor driven means, said locking means including a latch member arranged to engage said second control member in its set position and being effective only when said first member is in its unset position, and means for unlocking said locking means when said first member is moved from the unset to the set position thereby to unlock said switch.

lO. A timer comprising a switch, a lever mechanism for operating said switch, first and second axially slidable and manually adjustable control members for actuating said lever mechanism, said control members each having a set axial position and an unset axial position, motor driven means for sequentially releasing said control members from their set positions thereby to provide time controlled operation of said switch, and a means coacting with said lever mechanism for restraining said lever mechanism from being actuated by said second control member when said first control member is in its set position, thereby to preclude axial movement of said second member until said first member has moved to its unset position.

1l. A timer comprising a switch, a lever mechanism for operating said switch, first and second axially slidable and manually adjustable control members for actuating said lever mechanism, said control members each having a set and an unset position and actuating said lever mechanism by axial movement from said set to said unset positions, motor driven means for sequentially releasing said control members from their set positions thereby to provide time controlled operation of said switch, and a lever arranged to coact with said lever mechanism for restraining said lever mechanism from being actuated by said second control member when said first control member is in its set position, thereby to preclude axial movement of said second member until said first member has moved to its unset position.

12. The timer of claim ll wherein the restraining lever includes two branches, one of said branches engaged by said first control member when said first control member is in its set position, and the other of said branches engaging said lever mechanism to restrain said mechanism from being actuated by said second control member when said first control member is in its set position.

13. A timer comprising a switch, a lever mechanism for operating said switch, first and second axially slidable and manually adjustable control members for actuating said lever mechanism, said control members each having a set and an unset position and actuating said lever mechanism by axial movement from said set to said unset positions, motor driven means for sequentially releasing said control members from their set positions thereby to provide time controlled operation of said switch, said second member biased toward said unset position by said lever mechanism, and a lever for restraining said lever mechanism from being actuated by said second control member when said rst control member is in its set position, said lever including two branches, one of said branches engaged by said first control member when said first control member is in its set position, and the other of said branches engaging said lever mechanism when said first control member is in its set position thereby to restrain said mechanism from being actuated by said second control member, said first member biased toward said unset position by said lever.

14. A range timer comprising a switch, a lever mechanism for operating said switch, a first axially depressible and manually adjustable control member for setting the time at which the switch is to be closed, a second axially depressible and manually adjustable control member for setting the time at which the switch is to be opened, said control members each having a depressed and an outward position and actuating said lever mechanism by axial movement from said depressed to said outward positions, means for sequentially releasing said control members from their depressed positions thereby to provide time controlled operation of said switch, said second member biased toward said outward position by said lever mechanism, and a lever for restraining said lever mechanism from being actuated by said second control member when said first control member is in its depressed position, said lever including two branches, one of said branches engaged by said first control member when said first control member is in the depressed position, and the other of said branches engaging said lever mechanism when said first control member is in its depressed position thereby to restrain said mechanism from being actuated by said second control member, said first member being biased toward its outward position by said lever.

15. A timer comprising a switch, first and second manually adjustable and axially slidable control members each having a set and an unset position, a lever means actuated by the axial sliding movement of said first and second control members respectively thereby to close and open said switch, said lever means including first and second levers, said second lever being spring biased, connected to and arranged `to cooperate with said first lever thereby to provide snap action for said switch in response to the positioning of said control members, said first lever adapted to move in response to axial movement of said first member from its set to its unset position lthereby to close said switch when said second member is in its set position, said second lever adapted to move in response to axial movement of said second member from its set to its unset position thereby to open said switch when said first member is in its unset position.

16. The timer of claim 15 wherein the first lever is in continuous engagement with said switch and pivots about one of its ends, and the second lever is pivotally mounted and spring biased to urge axial movement of said second member to its unset position.

17. A timer comprising a switch, a lever mechanism for operating said switch, means including first and second axially slidable and manually adjustable control members for actuating said lever mechanism, said control members each having a set and an unset position, motor driven means for sequentially releasing said control members from their set positions thereby to provide time controlled operation of said switch, a lever for restraining said lever mechanism from being actuated by said second control member when said first control member is in its set position, thereby to preclude axial movement of said second member until said first member has moved to its unset position, and a means for locking said switch in a closed position unaffected by said motor driven means, said locking means including a latch member for engaging said second control member in its set position and being effective only when said first control member is in its unset position.

18. A timer comprising a switch, a lever mechanism for operating said switch, means including first and second axially slidable and manually adjustable control members for actuating said lever mechanism, said control members each having a set and an unset position, motor driven means for sequentially releasing said control members from their set positions thereby to provide time controlled operation of said switch, said lever mechanism including first and second levers, means for connecting said first lever to said second lever, said first lever adapted to move in response to axial movement of said first member from its set to its unset position thereby to close said switch when said second member is in its set position, said second lever adapted to move in response to axial movement of said second member from its set to its unset position thereby to open said switch when said first member is in its unset position, a stop lever for restraining said lever mechanism from being actuated by said second control member when said first control member is in its set position, thereby to preclude axial movement of said second member until said first member has moved to its unset position, and a means for locking said switch in a closed position unaffected by said motor driven means, said locking means including a latch member for engaging said second control member in its set position and being effective only when said first control member is in its unset position.

19. A timer comprising a switch, a lever mechanism for operating said switch, means including first and second axially slidable and manually adjustable control members for actuating said lever mechanism, said control members each having a set and an unset position, motor driven means for sequentially releasing said control members from their set positions thereby to provide time controlled operation of said switch, said lever mechanism including first and second levers, means for connecting said first lever to said second lever, said first lever adapted to move in response to axial movement of said first member from its set to its unset position thereby to close said switch when said second member is in its set position, said second lever adapted to move in response to axial movement of said second member from its set to its unset position thereby to open said switch when said rst member is in its unset position, and a means for locking said switch in a closed position unaffected by said motor driven means, said locking means including a latch member for engaging said second control member in its set position and being ineffective when said first control member is in its set position.

2f). A timer comprising a switch, a lever mechanism for operating said switch, first and second axially slidable and manually adjustable control members for actuating said lever mechanism, said control members each having a set position and an unset position, motor driven means for sequentially releasing said control members from their set positions thereby to provide time controlled operation of said switch, said lever mechanism including first and second levers, means for connecting said first lever to said second lever, said first lever adapted to move in response to axial movement of said first member from its set to its unset position thereby to close said switch when said second member is in its set position, said second lever adapted to move in response to axial movement of said second member from its set to its unset position thereby to open said switch when said first member is in its unset position, and a means for restraining said lever mecha- `15 nism from being actuated by said second control mem ber when said first control member is in its set position, thereby to preclude axial movement of said second member until said first member has moved to its unset position.

21. A timer comprising a switch; first and second manually adjustable and axially slidable control members each having a set and an unset position; a lever means actuated by the axial sliding movement of said first and second control members respectively thereby to close and open said switch; said lever means including first and second levers; said first lever pivoted about one of its ends, generally overlying said second lever, and in continuous engagement with said switch; said second lever pivotally supported, spring biased and connected to said rst lever thereby to urge axial movement of said first and second members to their unset positions; said first lever adapted to move in response to axial movement of said first mem- 15 ber from its set to its unset position thereby to close said switch When said second member is in its set position, said second lever adapted to move in response to axial movement of said second member from its set to its unset position thereby to open said sWitch when said flrst member is in its unset position.

References Cited in the le Of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,145,082 Grayson Ian. 24, 1939 2,824,181 Gallagher et al Feb. 18, 1958 2,905,778 Fox et al Sept. 22, 1959 2,907,386 Elliott Oct. 6, 1959 FOREiGN PATENTS 728,105 Great Britain Apr. 13, 19'55 

